84 SEA-FISH. 
one correct one that makes fouling next to an im- 
possibility. The hooks, being baited, are put over- 
board first, the lead being retained in the right 
hand until the tide has carricd out the fathom of 
CorRNISH SHEARING-LEAD. 
slack snood below it. Then, and xot before, the 
lead is pitched a good two fathoms against the 
tide, the line being allowed to run slowly out over 
the gunwale until the lead touches the bottom, 
when three fathoms are hauled and the whole made 
fast round a cleat. Thus, if the tide runs aft, the 
lead is thrown for’ard, and vice versa. Unless there 
is a mizen up to keep the boat head to wind, she 
will swing to the tide; where, however, the latter is 
streaming out broadside, the hooks are thrown out 
first as before, and the lead is dropped alongside as 
soon as the slack is all out. Above all, it is essen- 
tial to Iet the line run out slowly while the lead is 
going down. Any attempt to gain time by letting 
it fly out unchecked, or, worse still, paying it out in 
coils, will only result in a foul; and the worst of it 
is that, although no fish of any consequence will 
take the bait with the line in a tangle, there is 
nothing to warn the fisherman that all is not right 
below, and he may fish on in a fool’s paradise for 
some minutes before the absence of bites suggests 
something at fault. It is as well to bear in mind, 
when withdrawing the lead from the bottom, that 
a fathom may be roughly measured hy the full 
stretch of both arms. 
